Brake-equalizing mechanism



NOV. 4, 1930.. Q, M, NACKER 1.780.498

BRA-KE EQUALIZING lEcHANIsm med Nov. so, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 1 Streuung() vwantoz Nov. 4, 1930. Q Mi NAQKER 1,780,498.

BRAKE EQUALIZING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 30, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 4, 1930 i y f Unire OWENI 1u.` NACKER, for DETROIT, MioHIGAN, AssreNonoF vcfm-matr` 'rok ALANsoN 1." vi n vi BRUSH, onnu'rnorr,Miei-:refait1` a BRAKEfEeUAVLIzING MECnANrsM y Appnmmn mea `ivowmibery 30, 1925;] semi No.' taaie.

- rhe invention relatesto Avehicle brake4 sys-V tems-.in whichy a` plurality of wheel brakes are operated,fromfa'common actuating-mem-- ber. There aretwo distinct types ofsysteins which have V:eretofore'been used, first, equal! izing systems in whichthe actuating force is automatically divided between the lseveral brakes, and second, rigid systems where the connections between the actuatingmember andi'the several brakesare independent of e'ach/'other and must beadjusted to maintain proper balance. Each ofv theses'ystems has certain advantages and certain defects.

Thu'sgthe equalizingsystem does away with 'connectinglink of one brake will' release the 'the necessity (ifaccuratev adjustment b'ut'vhas the ydisadvantagel that the breakage of any vifholeg'syst'er'n-1v Onthe other handgthe rigid system', whilehaving the advantageof main taining` the several brakes independently operative, requires rcareful and 'accurate'adjustment to equalize the braking connection. Itf'is the object ofY they present invention toV` combine the advantages and avoid the defects ofthe two.` types by a system which f may be" alternatively equalizingfor rigid. It

lis a further object to obtain such advantages with the simple construction of mechanism "and one which may loe-easily adjusted 'by an unskilled operator. s Y With this and 'other objects in View, the

invention consists in the construction as here#v inafter set forth'.4

lin the drawings', Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation fof my improved brake'mechanism ask applied iure 3. Figure-5 is a to amotorvehicle.

Figure 2 is ayplanview thereof. `Figure 3 isac'ross sectionon line 3-#3 of Figure 2. V I

Figure bottom plan-view of a portion'of the mechanism.V

Figures, 7,v and 8 are details designated by reference characters.V .Figure 9 is a plan view partly in section ofthe assemblies shown-in Figures 3 and ll'.

Figure l0 is a sectional plan View substan- 4 ist Section on une ig-arof Fig The'essential'featureof my improved construction is anr element connecting a plurality of brakes which'in oneiadjustment will equal-` ize and in anotherisrigid. With such an element ypresenttheoperator may takehis lchoice of the--rigid-or equalizing system `and easily changeover from one to ,theothen` Assum- *i ing that therigid system is desired, the element is first adjusted yto equalize and power isthen applied to the vactuating member which will kbe distributed equally to the sev. eralibr'akes.'{ Whilefthis force is still applied,

the'element willbeadjusted-into rigid positionA with thef result that a rigidk system'is produced which is perfectly balanced.

f 4My,imp'rovementmay be' applied toivarious `scribed with'the brakes H, I, l for vthe Vwheelsrespe'ctively .on the forward andrear axles.y y n y Q Y vTo `permit of perfect equalization between these VIVvarious vbrakesl provide first for equalization` between the brake actuating heads andlG on opposite'sides of the icar, and, second, equalization b'etween'the forward and rear brakes on each'sidej As shown inLFig- Vures Sand 4 thevshafts E and F/ which ref spectivelyactuate the heads G and G f are vconnected* to. th'e [actuating tubular shaft D throughfan equalizer of the following construction; J is arock arm secured to andkdependingr from vthe shaft D lower end the'k fianges J', J? which'slidably embrace vthe roundedifhead K on a krock arm fianged hub members M and M mountedlrespectively on the shafts E and E. The rock arm K is provided substantially centrally with a slot-K2 for the passageV of the shaft E and -is provided on opposite sides offthislslotwiththe openings K3 `and K4 reris the actuating 'brake pedal which isk con-f and having 'at its Thisk rock arm is .arranged between 4 spectively. Fitted in the opening K3 is a pin L and this pin projects into the member M where it is fitted in an opening M4 'and passes through a slot M3 in the member M. A pin L is fitted in the opening K4 and this pin is fitted in an opening M5 in the member M and passes through'a slot M2 in the member M t The operation of this equalizer is as follows. If a force is applied to thehead K tending to move the same toward the left as viewed in Figure 3, the member K will pivot on the shaft E about the point X. This will tend to move the opening K3 and pin L upwardly and the opening K4 and the pin L downwardly. The horizontal force-eX- erted on the head K will be balanced by the pressure of the arm K on t-lie shaft E while the upward force on the pin L will be balanced by an equal downward force on the pin L. Thus if the movement of the pin upwardly is* retarded by any given force, the arm K will slide on the shaft E until the pin L .is retarded by an equal force so that equal forces will be applied to the pins L and L and the shafts E and E will be rotated with an equal force. The slots M2 and M3 are for the purpose of permitting, adjustment of the members M and M relative to each other prior to the locking of the same in the manner hereinafter to be more fully brought-out, it being noted that the slot in the member M is in alignment with the opening in the member M, while the slot in the member M is in alignment with the `opening in the member M.

The forward and rearpbrakes H, I and H', I are actuated respectively from the heads G, G through the medium of rods M, N, M', N. i hese rods are not, however, directly attached to the heads G, G but are connected thereto through the medium of an equalizing plate O. This, as shown in Figures l and 8 has the upwardly and downwardly extending arms O, O2 respectively connected with the rods M and Nand the laterally extending arms O3, O4 which latter are slotted horizontally at O5. Clamping bolts Opass through the slots O5 and engage the heads G, G to communicate a torque thereto. Thus, upon the application of a torque to the member G, the plate O will be turneduntil one of the rods M or N reaches the limit of itsmovement, whereupon the plate O will pivot about .y its point of connection with the rod which has reached the limit of its movement and the bolts O3 will slide in the slots O5 to more directly apply force to the other rod until this latter rod has also reached the limit ofits movement and the force applied to the two rods i-s equalized.

With the construction as described where the brake is to be used as an equalizing system the clamping bolts OG vand L, L are loosened so that any pressure applied to the pedal A will be equally distributed to the several brakes. If, however, it is desired to use a rigid system, this may be perfectly equalized by first applying pressure to the pedal A sufficient to apply all of the brakes and then while this pressure is still maintained, adjusting the clamping screws L, L and O6 so as to clamp all of the equalizers. If, at any time during the use of the system the brakes get out of balance, all that is necessary is to loosen the clamping screws and again equalize in the manner just described.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a brake system, the combination with a plurality of brakes and a common actuating member therefor, of an equalizing connection between said brakes and means including a portion of said equalizingconnection for locking said equalizing connection.

2. In a. brake system, the combination with a plurality of brakes and a commonactuating member therefor, of connections between said actuating member and the several brakes including independent connecting elements and a common equalizing element, and means including a portion of saidequalizing element for locking said equalizing element.

3. In a brake system, the combination with a plurality of brakes and a common actuating member therefor, of independent actuating connections to said brakesand a common element connecting` said independent connections with said actuating'member, said element being adjustable to be alternatively an equalizer and a rigid connector.

y 4. In a brake system thecombination with a plurality of groups each comprising a plurality of brakes, and ay common actuating member therefor, connections between said actuating .member and each of the groups including an equalizing element, connections to each of the brakes of each group including an equalizing element, and means for locking said equalizing elements to render the Vwhole system rigid.

5. In a brake system, the combination with brakes for the wheels of forward and rear axles on each side of the car, of a common actuating member for said brakes, an operating connection between said actuating member and the brake. mechanisms on opposite sides of the car including an vequalizing element, actuating connections for the brakes on the same side of the Vcar including an equalizing element and means for clamping all of said equalizing elements to render the whole system rigid. v

6. In a brake system, the combination with a plurality of brakes, and a common actuating member therefor, of a plurality of equalizing elements arranged between the common actuating member and the said brakes, and means for locking eachA of the said equalizing elements.

7. In a brake system, the combination with ak plurality of brakes, and a common actuating member' therefor, of a plurality of equalizing connections arranged between theeommon actuating member andthe said-brakes and adjustable means for converting said v equalizing connections into rigid connections.

8.' In a brake system, in combination an actuating pedal, a Vplurality of rotatable shafts, an equalizing connection between the said actuating pedal and the said shafts,

` brake actuating rods, an equalizing connection between each of the said shafts and a kplurality of the said brake actuating rods and means for loc-king said equalizing connections to convert the 'same into rigid connecy tions.

"In testimony whereof I' aix my signature.

Vownu M. NACKER. 

